New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) celebrates with fans following a win against the New Orleans Pelicans in a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Heat defeated the Pelicans 113-99. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

It seems the Miami Heat is having a bit of a financial problem with its center Hassan Whiteside, who is expected to enter the free agency market during the offseason. If the team fails to resolve this issue, then it could end up losing Whiteside to the Los Angeles Lakers.

As reported by the Miami Herald, Whiteside will soon become a free agent but he could re-sign with Miami for next season. However, this can only happen if the Heat agrees to give him a maximum contract.

This is a problem for the team due to its limited salary cap space. Although Miami can still give Whiteside what he wants, it will probably do so by carrying out salary cuts or sacrificing other key free agents-to be such as Dwayne Wade, Joe Johnson and Luol Deng. Of course, these players might also demand max contract and losing them can greatly affect the Heat's roster.

But, if Miami really values Whiteside, then it will do everything it can to negotiate a deal that's acceptable for both parties. After all, once he becomes a free agent, other NBA teams will also swoop in to try to sign him.

One of those teams is the Lakers. Unlike Miami, the LA franchise can offer Whiteside a maximum contract since it has enough salary space to give two free agents what they want. In fact, even if the team gets Whiteside, it still has enough money to sign another superstar like Kevin Durant.

Durant too, is another player that Miami is targeting to sign. But apparently, the team still can't make an official decision until it irons out the negotiations with Whiteside. However, if Durant agrees to Miami's deal before Whiteside does, then there's a strong possibility that the team will sign the former and release the latter.

As for Whiteside, he is currently recovering from the knee injury he sustained during the second round series between Heat and the Toronto Raptors. But, as noted by CBS Sports, it seems his condition is not that serious since he will not have to undergo surgery this offseason.